These units introduce students to the possibilities of computer-based mathematics, showing how computation complements, extends, and enriches traditional mathematical methods, and demonstrating the methods with which mathematicians work in the real world.
There are three different subject areas brought together under a common heading: “How algorithmic thinking helps us decipher a complex world.”
Each unit includes two types of lessons. Application lessons introduce students to mathematical and data science aspects of the subject area, without requiring prior coding knowledge. Students work through prepared ‘Jupyter notebooks’ where the required computations can be run on demand. Behind-the-scenes lessons unpack some of the computational methods and assumes prior exposure to basic coding. The software is free, of professional quality and supported by a international community, can be installed or used in a browser, and is relatively easy to learn and use.
The three units are:
- Understanding Data through Visualisation
- Understanding Behaviour through Simulation
- Understanding Patterns through Generative Geometry
Students will need computers (individual or pairs) and the teacher may want to use data projection. Trial schools will require a local Python installation (Anaconda distribution, freely available), Chrome browser, Excel, and other unit-specific software (more information in the Teachers' Guide).
